Tool for cleaning surfaces of thin wall elements



Feb. 7, 1956 M. R. KENT TOOL FOR CLEANING SURFACES OF THIN- WALL ELEMENTS Filed March 5, 1954 \L) \EIIIIIIII TOOL FOR CLEANING SURFACES OF THIN WALL ELEMENTS Melvin R. Kent, Roslindale, Mass. Application March 5, 1954, Serial No. 414,436 3 Claims. (Cl. 51-486) This invention relates to tools for cleaning the surfaces of thin wall elements, such as the cylindrical inner surfaces of fittings into which tubing is to be sweated to form hot water lines and the like.

Heretofore the inner surfaces of such fittings have been cleaned, so far as I am aware, either with steel wool or with wire brushes. The steel wool has the disadvantages not only of being hazardous to use with the hands, but also of being time-consuming in use. The wire brushes do the job more quickly but have other disadvantages: a different brush is required for each size tubing, so normally it is necessary to put up with the inconvenience of carrying at least three different ones around at all times; and furthermore the brushes are expensive and wear out rapidly.

My new invention is characterized by a number of advantages. It is economical to use, since the only element subject to wear can be replaced quickly and inexpensively. Fittings for all the diameters of tubing in common use (16'', %1, 1) may be cleaned with a single tool. Cleaning is just as rapid as with steel brushes, so there is no time lost. Use is not only free from risk of harm to the hands, but is easy and comfortable as well.

Gther advantages and objects of my invention will appear from the following description and from the drawings of a preferred embodiment, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation view of said preferred embodiment; and

Fig. 2 is a broken-away section view showing the construction and mounting of the cylindrical abrasive member thereof.

Referring in more detail to the drawings, there is shown two elongated members indicated generally at 2 and 4 which are pivotally joined to each other by the bolt 6.

In the notched extremity 8 of the elongated member 2 is' mounted the backing roller 10. Extending longitudinally through the center of said backing roller is the pin 12, about which said backing roller is free to rotate, said pin being secured in the extremity 8, by force fit or otherwise.

Opposing the backing roller 10 is the cylindrical abrasive member indicated generally at 14. Extending from the elongated element 4 and rigidly connected therewith is the cylindrical centerpost 16, in the upper portion of which is a threaded axial blind hole 18. Surrounding said centerpost is an elastic sleeve 20 of rubber or similar material, which fits therearound snugly when in a normal relaxed condition. Around the elastic sleeve 20 is an abrasive coated sleeve 22, which may be for example of emery cloth or sandpaper, and which fits snugly on said elastic sleeve when the latter is in a relaxed, unstressed condition.

Mounted around said centerpost and under the elastic sleeve 20 is a washer 24, which may suitably have an outside diameter less than that of said elastic sleeve so as to permit free downward movement of the abrasive sleeve 22 thereby. Said elastic sleeve as it rests on said washer 24 extends above the upper surface of the centerpost 16, and may be longitudinally compressed through washer 26, also of smaller outside diameter than said elastic sleeve, by tightening screw 28 in threaded hole 18.

The preferred proportioning of dimensions is such that when the ends 30 and 32 forming the handles of the tool are pressed together so as to bring the backing roller 10 and the abrasive member 14 near each other, the longitudinal axes of said backing roller and said abrasive member become substantially parallel when the surfaces thereof are still a distance apart corresponding to the wall thickness of the element whose cylindrical surface is to be cleaned.

In operation, the handles 30 and 32 are moved apart and the wall of a thin-wall element such as a fitting for tubing is inserted between the backing roller 10 and the abrasive member 14, the cylindrical surface to be cleaned being toward the latter. The handles are then squeezed together so that the thin wall is subjected to considerable pressure between the abrasive member and backing roller. The tool is then given a twisting movement, so that the abrasive member abrades and polishes the surface to be cleaned while the backing roller rolls freely around the opposing surface. In the preferred embodiment, the amount of friction between the surfaces of the elastic sleeve 20 and the centerpost 16 and abrasive sleeve 22 may be varied by tightening or loosening the screw 28. The abrasive sleeve 22 may thus be set to rotate slowly and automatically as desired, so as to allow even wear all around the periphery without interfering with abrasive action.

Other embodiments within the spirit of my invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art and I do not intend to be limited except as defined in the claims that follow.

I claim:

1. A tool useful in abrading the generally cylindrical inner surfaces of thin wall elements which comprises a first elongated member, having a handle end and a working extremity, a cylindrical abrasive member mounted on said working extremity of said first elongated member, in general axial alignment therewith, and to permit free introduction of said abrasive member into holes having a least diameter greater than the diameter of said abrasive member, a cylindrical backing roller mounted for rotation about the axis thereof, and a second elongated member having a handle end and a working extremity and having said backing roller mounted therein near said working extremity thereof and in general axial alignment therewith and cooperating with said first elongated member to permit movement of said abrasive member and said backing member toward and away from each other, whereby said abrasive member may be introduced into generally tubular thin wall elements for abrading curved inner surfaces thereof.

2. The tool of claim 1 in which a centerpost extends from said first elongated member, an axial hole extends through said abrasive member, and said abrasive member is therethrough mounted on said centerpost, said abrasive member being secured against axial movement by locking means secured to said centerpost, said means extending in direction transverse to the axis of said hole beyond said hole but not so far as the surface of said abrasive member.

3. The tool of claim 1 in which said first and second elongated members are secured in pivotal side-by-side relation at a point on each intermediate said handle ends and said working extremities thereof, whereby the axes of said abrasive member and said backing roller approach a parallel relationship from an angular relationship as said handle ends of said elongated members are brought toward each other.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Hill Nov. 26, 1946 

